The Northwestern Illinois Conference , known locally as the NWIC , was a high school conference in northwest and north central Illinois . The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association . The conference included small public high schools, and one small private school, with enrollments between 75-400 students in Carroll , Jo Daviess , Stephenson and Winnebago counties.
19-567: Originally known as the Stephenson County Conference , the first year of competition was 1958 with four charter schools: Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. In 1959 Freeport Aquin, Galena, Stockton and Warren joined from the disbanded US Grant Conference . Pearl City joined the conference in 1960 increasing the total number of teams to nine. The last year of competition under the Stephenson County name
38-706: A re-branding of the Northwest 8 took place in 1987, due to the fact that it had grown to 12 teams and was looking to expand beyond that number. In 1988, the Upstate Illini Conference was reconstructed and schools from the Northwest 8 joined, competition for all sports, with the exception of football, was established. In 1991, football schedules were set with 6 teams in the North Division : Durand, North Boone, Pearl City, Rockford (Lutheran), Elizabeth (River Ridge)-Warren (coop) and South Beloit and
57-657: The Four Rivers Conference . Rockford Lutheran and Rockford Christian Life also departed the conference in 2001, seeking competition more suited to their locations and size by joining the Private School League . The remaining schools realigned under the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference banner. The Upstate Illini Conference had various divisions throughout its history, the list of schools encompasses all of
76-624: The NWIC , was a high school conference in northwest and north central Illinois . The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association . The conference included small public high schools, and one small private school, with enrollments between 75-400 students in Carroll , Jo Daviess , Stephenson and Winnebago counties. Originally known as the Stephenson County Conference ,
95-703: The South Division : Ashton-Franklin Center, Kirkland-Hiawatha, Milledgeville, Mt. Carroll, Mt. Morris and Polo. In 1994, Mt. Morris was merged into the Oregon School District and dropped out of the conference. In that same year, Huntley joined and the divisions were realigned into East - Durand, Huntley, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Rockford Lutheran and South Beloit and West - Ashton-Franklin Center, Milledgeville, Mt Carroll, Pearl City, Polo, River Ridge and Warren. In 1991, Pecatonica joined
114-785: The Northwest Conference. Additionally, in 1966, Lanark, from Carroll County, joined the conference, bringing the total number of schools to 10. In 1974 after Durand, Orangeville and Pearl City left for the Upstate Illini Conference , the remaining schools changed the name to the Northwestern Illinois Conference, also known as the NWIC. Officially formed in 1974, the 7 members were Dakota, Freeport Aquin, Galena, Lanark, Lena-Winslow, Stockton and Warren. In 1977, Orangeville returned to
133-625: The Upstate Illini. Sources:IHSA Conferences, and IHSA Member Schools Directory Full members Various Conferences/Independent US Grant Conference Upstate Illini Conference Northwest 8 Conference The Northwestern Illinois Conference won 5 team state championships in IHSA sponsored athletics and activities. The conference also produced 15 individual championships, including track & field , and wrestling . Upstate Illini Conference The Upstate Illini Conference (UIC)
152-404: The conference. However, East Dubuque quickly replaced them in 1989, keeping the total number of teams an even eight. Unfortunately, in 1995 they decided to leave the conference. This left the conference in a situation they had not had not been in since 1976, an odd number of teams for which to schedule. The final season for the NWIC occurred in 1995. Beginning in 1996, this conference merged with
171-509: The first year of competition was 1958 with four charter schools: Dakota, Durand, Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. In 1959 Freeport Aquin, Galena, Stockton and Warren joined from the disbanded US Grant Conference . Pearl City joined the conference in 1960 increasing the total number of teams to nine. The last year of competition under the Stephenson County name was 1962. Based on the fact that the conference contained schools from Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, in 1963 it became known as
190-416: The fold increasing the total teams to eight. As the 1986 school year began, Lanark High School consolidated with Shannon High School, becoming Eastland High School. After 30 years of membership, in 1988 Warren dropped out of the conference. However, East Dubuque quickly replaced them in 1989, keeping the total number of teams an even eight. Unfortunately, in 1995 they decided to leave the conference. This left
209-1197: The league for all sports except football, due to existing schedules in the Mid-Northern, however, in 1992 joined the East Division. In 1995 Huntley dropped out and East Dubuque, Forreston and La Moille were added to the West Division while Ashton-Franklin Center moved from the West division to the East. In 1996 the Northwestern Illinois Conference (NWIC) and Upstate Illini merged under the Upstate Illini banner. Based on these new additions, three divisions were formed West - Dakota, East Dubuque, Galena, Lena-Winslow, Orangeville, River Ridge, Stockton and Warren. East - Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica, Rockford Lutheran and South Beloit. South - Forreston, Freeport Aquin, Lanark (Eastland), Milledgeville, Mt. Carroll, Pearl City and Polo. In 1999 Savanna
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#1732802406201228-477: The league would lose over half of the teams based primarily on football. The teams which left either returned to their original conference or began play under a new moniker, the Northwest 8 Conference . The remaining teams, all without football, maintained the name Upstate Illini. The teams that stayed within the conference, were Chadwick, Elizabeth, Hanover, Scales Mound, Shannon and Thomson. Eventually talks for
247-455: The name to the Northwestern Illinois Conference, also known as the NWIC. Officially formed in 1974, the 7 members were Dakota, Freeport Aquin, Galena, Lanark, Lena-Winslow, Stockton and Warren. In 1977, Orangeville returned to the fold increasing the total teams to eight. As the 1986 school year began, Lanark High School consolidated with Shannon High School, becoming Eastland High School. After 30 years of membership, in 1988 Warren dropped out of
266-628: The schools which were once a part of the conference. ♦ Elizabeth and Hanover consolidated creating the River Ridge CUSD in 1985. ♥ Shannon and Lanark consolidated creating the Eastland CUSD in 1986. ♣ Chadwick and Milledgeville consolidated creating the Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD in 1989. ° Leaf River ceased operations and was merged into Forreston High School in 1990 ³ Mt. Morris ceased operations and
285-414: Was 1962. Based on the fact that the conference contained schools from Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, in 1963 it became known as the Northwest Conference. Additionally, in 1966, Lanark, from Carroll County, joined the conference, bringing the total number of schools to 10. In 1974 after Durand, Orangeville and Pearl City left for the Upstate Illini Conference , the remaining schools changed
304-487: Was a high school conference in northwest and north central Illinois . The conference participated in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association . The conference included small public and private high schools with enrollments between 75-1,000 students in Bureau , Boone , Carroll , DeKalb , Jo Daviess , Kane , Lee , McHenry , Ogle , Stephenson and Winnebago counties. The name Upstate Illini
323-606: Was added to the South Division and Rockford Christian Life to the East Division making the total number of teams 24 for football, 26 overall, the largest conference in Illinois outside of the Chicago Public League . The year 2000 was the last year under the Upstate Illini name because six schools (Ashton-Franklin Center, Durand, Kirkland-Hiawatha, North Boone, Pecatonica and South Beloit) left in 2001 to form
342-745: Was merged into Oregon High School in 1995 ♠ Ashton and Franklin Center consolidated creating Ashton-Franklin Center High School in 2004 • Mount Carroll, Savanna and Thomson consolidated, creating the West Carroll School District in 2006. * River Ridge High School relocated to Hanover, IL in 2004. Full members Full members (non-football) Northwest 8 Conference Northwestern Illinois Conference Mid/Big-Northern Conference SHARK Conference Other Conference Northwestern Illinois Conference The Northwestern Illinois Conference , known locally as
361-495: Was originally given to a collection of 15 schools primarily coming from five conferences, the Blackhawk , Route 72 , Northwestern Illinois , SHARK and US Grant . The 15 original teams included: Ashton, Chadwick, Durand, Elizabeth, Franklin Center, Hanover, Leaf River, Milledgeville, Mt. Carroll, Orangeville, Pearl City, Rockford Lutheran, Scales Mound, Shannon and Thomson. This league began play in 1974, however within two years
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